October 5, 2012

After Obama's big rally yesterday, I'd like to see Wisconsin's own Paul Ryan do an event at the University of Wisconsin here in Madison. I'd like it, first, to give the University a chance to demonstrate its neutrality as between the 2 parties, and, second, because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas, and Paul Ryan could present the ideas that are an alternative to what Obama (and Baldwin and Pocan) are purveying, and he could do it in a way that reaches the younger audience.

I just criticized the Obama event for being a such a hardcore get-out-the-vote rally, when — to fit the university setting — it should have had more of an intellectual character, teaching students about political ideas and present-day policy issues. Show some real respect, even veneration for the academic milieu and justify trumping whatever was planned by the professors in their classrooms. I think Paul Ryan could do that. Teach conservatism and let the students continue the "fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found."

"I'd like it, first, to give the University a chance to demonstrate its neutrality as between the 2 parties, and, second, because we have a tradition here of "sifting and winnowing" ideas, and Paul Ryan could present the ideas that are an alternative to what Obama (and Baldwin and Pocan) are purveying, and he could do it in a way that reaches the younger audience."

No, it's a waste of time.

Were the University really interested in a balanced, "sifting and winnowing" ideas, they'd have invited both campaigns, simultaneously, and forced them to focus on policy rather than driving out the vote.

You're asking a prostitute to save her reputation by selling herself to moral men - but moral men don't play that game, and *everyone* already knows the prostitute's reputation.

Better for the Legislature to cut funding, and force the administrators to come up with the funds to pay for their campaign event for their failed president.

Liberals react quite badly when "Wingnuts" invade their sacred spaces -- if he's lucky he'll just be shouted down, or have security cancel his speech because of phoned in bomb threats or threats to riot.

I do think Paul Ryan would excel at this. I'd love to see more of Romney and Ryan (but especially Ryan) speaking directly to college-age voters. This election in particular-- this particular moment in our nation's fiscal & economic situation-- demands it.

Almost by definition, any conservative speaking at a college campus is not going to beg for votes (that would be futile), but must provide a substantive, well-reasoned, compelling argument to persuade a skeptical audience (temperamentally and culturally predisposed against them) of some of the merits of conservative (or libertarian) thought/ policy.

I know it seems like a lost cause, all the decks are stacked against them (systematically, institutionally, culturally), but I really wish conservatives wouldn't concede academia and "youth" to the left.

You would have to bus in conservatives from Northern Wi. and Waukesha if you wanted to get a good crowd. The UW venue was a piece o' cake for the Obama campaign. Hell, they could get 30k Obama supporters within walking distance.

What evidence is there that Madison students would try and shout Paul Ryan down?

When Palin spoke with Breitbart, it mostly out-of-town bused -in Chicago people and older guys like garage mahal who tried to shout them down. There's an Althouse video of that somewhere and a garage mahal confession too, IIRC.

I believe events like Obama's at the university is an important educational and historical event in the students' lives. The memories will give them something to talk about after Obama's re-election and their graduation, as they stand in soup lines.

What's in it for the Romney/Ryan campaign for Paul Ryan to come to Madison?

My first college roommate was an SDS revolutionary from Madison. From what I can tell Madison hasn't changed much since then. I doubt there's all that much "sifting and winnowing" going on there.

There is a huge opportunity cost for Ryan to come to Madison before the election. There is also a substantial chance that the University and its students will attempt to humiliate Ryan in any number of ways.

I don't see much upside for a Ryan visit right now.

If UW-Madison wants to demonstrate its neutrality--which would surprise me--it could invite other conservatives to speak. Maybe Hugh Hewitt, who is a law professor, as well as a conservative spokesman and a Romney supporter from 2008. That's someone you could reach out to, if you think it's important.

If someone asks Ryan a question, they are liable to find themselves in an Obama TV ad without, of course the answer. Maybe that would a good Ryan ad: "here is the answer I gave that woman in the Obama ad."

Paul Ryan is not a UW-Madison grad, he is one of those Miami of Ohio Redskins (no hawks flying around when he went to school), so what appeal works for him if he attempts to become "Wisconsin's Own" on the Madison campus?

Besides the law students will once again be prohibited from attending class.

When will you understand that libs use the equal time shtick only when it is to their advantage? Fairness is one-way street.

On second thought, sifting and winnowing--though rooted in ancient metaphor--does sound to the modern ear like fieldhand work (cf. threshing floor) and so it's probably best not to talk about such things at UW-Madison.

I like this idea, Ann. You mentioned yesterday that the chancellor (if I recall correctly) said, to paraphrase, "there was no doubt we'd accede to the President's request to speak at U of W."

I would love to hear the internal debate of the solons if Ryan were to make the same request. Whereas before, when the talk was all about how to make it happen and how to skirt policy, the debate for Ryan Ryan would be about all the barriers that would have to be overcome, and all the potential negative things that could happen. In short, they'd be looking for a way out of it, I bet. And they'd probably pull some policy out of their damned policy books to subvert responsibility for the rejection.

Before anybody gets too excited about Paul Ryan "educating" the students in Madison, you should see the Breitbart video asking students filing into the Obama rally if Obama should have been allowed a Teleprompter for the debate.

It is hilarious. I've seen these stories about Harvard seniors being less well informed than freshmen. UW students seem to have started stupid and gone down from there.

Yeah, Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is a real “man of the people", visiting WI for a megabucks fundraiser, with NO public events.The invitation to Saturday’s event says the admission price for the general public is $1,000 per person, while those aged 35 and under can get in for $250.

It costs $15,000 per couple for a private dinner and those wishing to be recognized as a “Founding Partner” need to give $100,000.

While in Wisconsin Ryan will attend no public events, either for the Romney/Ryan campaign or for his reelection campaign to the U.S. House of Representatives.

It seems he can't take you up on your campus visit proposal. He's got more omportant things to do.